CW taps ‘Idol’ producer for pilot

Simon Fuller steers 'Austin' medical drama

The CW is getting into business with “American Idol” producer Simon Fuller, HBO is working with some old friends, and thesp Amy Smart (“Smith”) has been cast as the female lead in Glenn Gordon Caron pilot “The Meant-to-Bes.”

Smart will star as a rich, young gallery owner who elopes one winter night in New York, only to fall victim to an unexpected act of violence en route to her honeymoon. After dying, she finds herself in someplace other than heaven or hell and is charged with helping people on Earth do those things that were “meant to be.”

On the pilot pickup front, the CW has greenlit an hourlong drama pilot from Fuller’s 19 Entertainment and CBS Par Network Television.

“Austin Golden Hour” is a medical drama in which the action will unfold in real time, a la “24.” Skein, tentatively set in Texas, revolves around a tight team of emergency room surgeons and EMTs and will chronicle what happens in the hour following a trauma, as well as the personal lives of the staffers.

“ER” vet Lance Gentile wrote the pilot with Mal Young, with both exec producing. Fuller will serve as nonwriting exec producer.

Meanwhile, at HBO, it’s encore time for the guys from “Mr. Show.”

Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, whose late 1990s HBO sketch comedy remains a cult fave, are back at the pay cabler. HBO just picked up the pilot “David’s Situation,” starring Cross as himself.

Odenkirk and Cross first revealed the pilot order on their website. The duo both wrote the script; Odenkirk will also direct.

According to their site, the project will start shooting at the beginning of May in Los Angeles.

“We are both very, very excited about it and feel it’s really strong and important to the health of America,” Cross quipped on the site. “In all seriousness, Bob and I are both thrilled to be working together again to make funny TV happen.”

Cross is more recently best known for his turn as Tobias Funke on “Arrested Development.” (Odenkirk also guest starred on “Arrested”).